Question : Failed to initialize Winsock

I am using windows 98SE.  When I discovered that I could no longer surf the net I checked my ipconfig to see if I still had one.  When I ran ipconfig I got the error "IP Configuration Failed to initialize winsock".  I tried closing all TSR's, scand disk, defrag, reloading the OS and refreshing system files, and a new network card.  Still the same result.

Answer : Failed to initialize Winsock

This is the only other thing I can think of to fix the issue without a reformat.


01. Use Regedit.exe to navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock.

02. Export the Winsock key to a Winsock.reg file, to save it.
03. Delete the Winsock key.
04. Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2.

05. Export the Winsock2 key to a Winsock2.reg file, to save it.
06. Delete the Winsock2 key.
07. Exit Regedit.exe.
08. Control Panel / Network and Dial-up Connections.
09. Right-click Local Area Connection and press Properties.
10. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and press Uninstall.
11. After uninstalling TCP/IP, shutdown and restart your computer.
12. If TCP/IP is NOT automatically re-installed, use Control Panel / Network and Dial-up Connections.
13. Right-click Local Area Connection and press Properties.
14. Press Install.
15. Press Protocol / Add.
16. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) under Network Protocol, possibly under Microsoft, and press OK.
17. After the TCP/IP install, power off and power on your external modem, or shutdown and restart your computer.